Warrior in A Garden

A tourist meathead challenged me to a fight yesterday at the hotel gym in Hua Hin, Thailand where I was staying for work. He came up into my face for using “his” squat machine. I politely apologized to him, but also told him that it wasn’t his machine and that it was empty when I started using it. Amazingly, he asked me if I had a problem and to step outside with him if I did. It did cross my mind for a split second to step outside to teach this pompous ass a lesson. However, I saw that he was with his girlfriend. So I decided to de-escalate the situation. I politely apologized to him again, wished him well, and walked away.

I can’t say that I am a badass (especially compared to all of the world champion martial artists in ONE), but I can say that I am a lifelong expert martial artist who has been in my fair share of scraps. I still train hard six days a week in both Muay Thai and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. I could tell immediately that this meathead likely knew nothing about fighting or martial arts just by the way he broke my personal space with a weak stance and by how big his oversized muscles were. Though he outweighed me by 20-30 pounds, I am certain that I would have slept him in under a minute. This dude was a breath away from getting KTFO or choked unconscious in front of his girl. Muscles don’t win fights. Skills, training, and experience do. It never ceases to amaze me how untrained people are always ready to throw down over the slightest thing. The ignorance blows my mind away.

For sure, I am grateful that my martial arts training has given me both confidence and humility. It has given me the confidence that I can handle my business in most self-defense situations, but also the humility to walk away. Most people walk through life without a clue how to defend themselves or their loved ones. If you ask me, I think real-life martial arts training (like Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Boxing, Wrestling, MMA, etc) should be a mandatory part of every child’s education from kindergarten through high school. There would be far fewer assholes in the world and definitely far less bullying and/or fewer physical altercations.

As the saying goes, “it is better to be a warrior in a garden than a gardener in a war.” OSS!!! #WeAreONE